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Security forces and protesters clashed in Bahrain’s capital Manama and several other areas Tuesday, after people responded to a call from opposition groups for nationwide protests to mark International Workers’ Day.

In Manama, several people were injure as police dispersed protesters. The February 14 Youth Coalition had called for 15 such protests under the slogan “A hand builds and a hand resists.”

All protests began at the same time, 12:30 am at various villages and parts of the capital, DPA reported.

The group said the protests were meant as a sign of gratitude for the workers and to express solidarity with those who had been sacked from their jobs after last year protests.

The island country’s majority Shiites have been taking to the streets since early last year, demanding more rights from the ruling Sunni royal family.

More than 2,000 people were sacked from their jobs in connection with the protests.

Iran will start domestic manufacture of Glatiramer acetate, which is used as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, General Director of Iranian “Tofik Daru” research company Huseyn Attar said, IRIB News reported.

Glatiramer acetate is an immunomodulator drug currently used to treat multiple sclerosis.

Although the clinical definition of multiple sclerosis requires two or more episodes of symptoms and signs, glatiramer acetate is approved for treatment after single episodes. It is also used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. It is administered by subcutaneous injection.

The drug was discovered first and manufactured in Israel, by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd – an international pharmaceutical company headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel. Teva Pharmaceuticals is one of the 15 largest pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

Huseyn Attar added that Iran up until now has been importing Glatiramer acetate, however now the country will be able to manufacture it domestically.

“We’ve been importing several types of peptide drugs, such as Fentanil, Alfentanil, Sulfentanil and Glatimer acetate, a total of seven types,” Attar said. “To be manufactured, they require special technology, and Iran is able to produce them domestically”.

Attar added that Islamic Republic will be able to domestically manufacture 15 types of peptide drugs, among which is Glatimer acetate.

According to the International Monetary Fund, oil prices will gain 30% on average in 2012 compared with a year earlier on possible supply disruption from Iran.

The IMF in its new annual report of World Economic outlook has said that Iran related geopolitical oil supply risks extend beyond the reduction in oil production and exports that appears to be in the making already and is priced in by markets.

The following is the text of IMF’s report:

The impact on oil prices of a potential or actual disruption in oil supplies involving the Islamic Republic of Iran the world’s third largest exporter of crude oil would be large if not offset by supply increases elsewhere.

A halt of Iran’s exports to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development economies would likely trigger an initial oil price increase of about 20% to 30% with other producers or emergency stock releases likely providing some offset over time a part of this is likely priced in already. Further uncertainty about oil supply disruptions could trigger a much larger price spike.

Subject: UNO should intervene to stop genocide and rights violation in Gilgit Baltistan

I intend to draw your attention to a vital human rights issue which affects the two million people of Gilgit Baltistan. The region, declared disputed between India and Pakistan in 1948, is sandwiched strategically between India, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. UNO allowed Pakistan to assume temporary control over Gilgit Baltistan and stationed officials representing the UN Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan in both Gilgit and Skardu cities.

Till date, the natives of Gilgit Baltistan remain deprived of basic rights, the national identity and the right to self-governance as prescribed by the UN resolutions. On the other hand, gross level of human rights violations have continued to occur and in the aftermath of passenger’s massacre in Kohistan and Chilas, the right to free and safe travel has also been snatched away from the powerless residents. These incidents draw our attention towards involvement of militants and secret service personnel.

On February 28, 2012, militants wearing army uniform ambushed a bus in Kohistan and killed 18 Shia male passengers. Government has failed to arrest the assailants so far. The failure encouraged the terrorists who ambushed 34 buses near Chilas on April 3 2012 and killed dozens of Shia male passengers. The assailants numbering more than three thousand attacked the innocent passengers with stones, knives and automatic weapons. Eyewitness reports claim more than 50 deaths, scores injured and more than 100 abducted. The assailants torched 6 buses and pushed two in the Indus River.

The horrible incident occurred in front of police force and according to eyewitnesses; the police did not provide security to the passengers. Some local people of Chilas were later able to save the lives of 200 passengers.

Instead of arresting the miscreants of Gilgit Kohistan and Chilas, government resorted to imposing curfew in Gilgit city which has entered into 14th day. Under military control, life has crippled in the city and there is acute shortage of food and medicines. During the first ten days of curfew, there was a break of only 4 hours in which families arranged for food and water. The telecom system is completely blocked by the military and not news flows outside Gilgit. As majority of the workforce depend on daily wage labor for earnings, the curfew has forced them to remain shut in homes and lose the wages. Converting Gilgit Baltistan into a jail and denying basic food and medicine provisions is a gross violation of human rights. Military has arrested more than 100 youth from Gilgit.